by admin | Apr 9, 2019 | Ginetta Junior Championship News, News
It was a successful opening weekend for Douglas Motorsport in the 2019 Ginetta Junior Championship.
Zak O’Sullivan, who only arrived at the team a few days previously, topped the Free Practice times in advance of his first ever car race. Qualifying saw Lorcan Hanafin take P2 for race 1, with O’Sullivan in P3 and Gus Burton P5 -three Douglas cars in the top 5 grid positions. The qualifying positions for the second race were determined by drivers’ second quickest times which meant Zak O’Sullivan took Pole position, and Lorcan Hanafin completed an all Douglas Motorsport front row.
Race 1 saw Hanafin, O’Sullivan, and Gus Burton involved in a 5 car race for P2. It was the rookie O’Sullivan that won out on this occasion and he put his car over the line in second, giving him his first podium in his very first car race and his first win in the Rookie class. Burton was fifth with Hanafin 9th.
In race 2, although he started in pole position, O’Sullivan completed the race in 9th – enough to give him the lead in the 2019 Ginetta Junior Championship season. Lorcan Hanafin finished in 3rd.
by admin | Apr 5, 2019 | Ginetta Junior Championship News, News
Douglas Motorsport are delighted to announce another signing for the 2019 Ginetta junior championship. We are pleased to welcome Zak O’Sullivan to the team. After a successful spell in karts, Zak is making his long awaited transition to cars. He joins Bailey Voisin, Gustav Burton, Lorcan Hanafin and Freddie Tomlinson at the team for what promises to be an exciting championship.
Looking forward to the season ahead, Zak is delighted to be joining Douglas Motorsport and cannot wait for the new challenge.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Douglas Motorsport for my first year in cars! They have an outstanding track record in Ginetta Juniors and they’ll make the transition from karts to cars as easy as it can be. I’ve been getting grips with the car and working closely with the team. There’s an awful lot to learn and it is a big step for any young driver to take but I’m really excited about the challenge of doing so.”
Wayne Douglas is delighted to have Zak joining the team.
“We are all incredibly excited to have Zak joining us for the Ginetta Junior Championship this year. We’ve had an excellent record in the championship recently and we are hoping for further success this year. Zak’s potential behind the wheel is clear to see and he has approached the challenge of getting to grips with the car excellently. We are excited about what he can achieve across the coming season.”
Barry Mears, MB Partners’ Motorsport Manager, is confident that Zak will make an impact on the series as he makes the step up.
“The step from karts to cars is a big step for any young driver and it is no different for Zak this year. Zak’s natural pace is clear across all of his previous karting competition and this has been evident in pre-season testing as well. As with any new series, Zak knows there will be challenges but we are really hopeful that he will enjoy plenty of success across the coming months.”
As Zak makes his journey into sportscar racing this weekend, the British youngster has obtained the support of a handful of national and international businesses. Winkworth (an international estate agent listed on the AIM London Stock Exchange), Jelf (an award-winning insurance brokers), SkyEagle Aviation Academy and John Charcoal (mortgage brokers).
Zak’s debut season in the Ginetta Junior Championship will kick off at the Kent-based track, Brands Hatch this weekend (6th – 7th April) and has already got off to a flying start in the series as he topped the timesheets in the first practice session of the season.
by admin | Mar 6, 2019 | F3 News, News
Belgian, Ulysse De Pauw, has completed the three-car BRDC British F3 team line-up for Douglas Motorsport.
The 17-year-old finished third overall in the French F4 Championship last year, in his first year of single-seater racing. Showing excellent consistency and speed, De Pauw scored a maiden podium in just his fifth race on the legendary Pau street circuit, and then followed that up with a breakthrough victory at Spa-Francorchamps.
Finishing inside the top seven at every race, he scored a total of five podiums and was just 13 points shy of the runner-up position in the championship standings.
His maiden single-seater season followed a superb karting career that began in 2009, and saw him claim the 2012 Rotax Max Challenge Minimax title. He was second in the 2013 BNL Karting Series in Rotax Max Junior and third in the 2015 WSK Super Masters Series in the KFJ category.
Further success followed in 2016 where he was third in WSK Super Master Series OKJ, before a busy season in 2017 which saw him take third place overall finishes in the WSK Super Master Series OKJ, WSK Champions Cup, IAME International Final and the WSK Super Master Series.
The Belgian teenager is the third F4 graduate to join the team for the forthcoming British F3 season, joining British F4 champion Kiern Jewiss and American F4 race winner Benjamin Pedersen at the squad.
Now moving up the single-seater ladder to British F3, De Pauw commented: “I’m really looking forward to the year ahead in BRDC British F3 with Douglas Motorsport, and want to thank everyone who helped and supported me to have the chance to take part in this championship. I am feeling confident as I make the next step up. For the second year I have a new car and new circuits to learn, but my first year of single-seater racing was very strong and having just missed out on second place in F4, it’s made me even more determined as I get ready for my first season in British F3.”
Team Principal Wayne Douglas commented: “We’re delighted to complete our three-car line-up with Ulysse. He’s demonstrated that he’s a very exciting driver with plenty of potential, and with our driver development programme should be one to watch this year. His performances in his first year of single-seater racing were exceptional, and he completes one of our most promising driver line-ups for many years, with graduates from three different F4 championships across the globe.”
by admin | Feb 28, 2019 | Ginetta Junior Championship News, News
Douglas Motorsport are happy to announce yet another driver signing for the upcoming Michelin Ginetta Junior Champsionship. Bailey Voisin will make his car-racing debut in the junior series after signing for the team.
The Swiss born British racer, who is bilingual in English and French, started karting in Junior Max competition aged thirteen and last year competed in the Junior Rotax class of the Super One Karting Championship.
The sixteen year old, who currently studies in Bath, is now looking to take his racing to the next level this season in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship with support from Featured Developments and Thallo Capital.
Bailey Voisin: “I am thrilled to have joined Douglas Motorsport and really look forward to improving my driving skills with such a professional and supportive team. Having now met some of the other drivers and the wider Douglas team, I feel very welcome.
“My immediate goal in the 2019 Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship is to do well in the Rookie Cup this season and hopefully I can look forward to a successful year as a Douglas Junior.”
Voisin is the third confirmed driver for the upcoming campaign, joining series returnees Gus Burton and Lorcan Hanafin.
Wayne Douglas, team principal: “Douglas Motorsport have started an intensive test programme with Bailey and his progression has been impressive. In his rookie season, the team and Bailey’s aim together is rookie podiums and wins which should see Bailey running at the front as the season progresses.”
by admin | Feb 25, 2019 | Ginetta Junior Championship News, News
Lorcan Hanafin will aim to build upon an impressive introduction in 2018 as he returns to the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship grid this season with Douglas Motorsport
The former karter joined the Ginetta family last year with a strong pedigree as a former race-winner in the Renault UK Clio Cup Junior series, and he made a good first impression as he contested half of the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship season with Douglas Motorsport.
The 16 year old, who resides in the West Yorkshire town of Guiseley, was a consistent presence at the sharp end of the grid and finished in the top ten in eight of the fifteen races he contested, with the highlight being a superb fourth overall and a first Rookie Cup podium finish at Rockingham.
With a maiden race fastest lap under his belt as well at Silverstone, Hanafin capped off the campaign with more impressive pace in the Winter Series at Brands Hatch as he posted a second fastest time in qualifying and finished in the top six in two of the three races contested.
Hanafin will line-up alongside Gus Burton in Douglas Motorsport’s entry for the 2019 Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship and will race with support from MIS Motorsport, Grandma Wilds, Rally School Ireland and Reviv.
Lorcan Hanafin:
“I am really excited to continue working with Douglas Motorsport for the 2019 season. After finding my feet for the latter part of the 2018 season, I feel like I am now more prepared for a full campaign.
“We have completed a positive winter testing programme so far and I will head into the new season in a stronger position to fight for outright wins and hopefully get myself in contention for the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship title.”
Wayne Douglas, team principal:
“It is great to have Lorcan and MIS Motorsport back with us for another season. After a very strong Winter Series and some very promising testing, we are confident Lorcan will be a front runner from the opening race at Brands Hatch in April.”
